Safety belt buckle



Jan. 11, 1966 L. I... BORICK SAFETY BELT BUCKLE Filed Dec. 31, 1963 I mummy 1 I L24 66 INVENTOR.

1.00/5 L. boxe/ck BY JM, flaw Fdav, are, 6 WM Arm/away United States Patent 3,228,081 SAFETY BELT BUCKLE Louis L. Borick, Eucino, Calif., assignor to Superior Industries, Inc., Van Nuys, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Dec. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 334,828 4 Claims. (Cl. 24230) The present invention relates to a safety belt buckle, and more particularly to a safety belt buckle adapted for releasably fastening together the ends of straps, belts, and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety belt buckle capable of being unlocked and positively disengaged quickly and easily.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety belt buckle of the aforementioned character in which the part to be secured can be readily inserted into the buckle frame without disturbing the cover lever or handle por tion thereof, and wherein the buckle is adapted to thereupon automatically lock the part in its inserted position.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a safety belt buckle of the aforementioned character wherein dogging means are normally biased to a locking position in engagement with the part to be secured, and the dogging means is moved to a release position by cam rning means forming a part of the cover lever and operated when the cover lever is moved to its open position. It is a salient feature of the invention that the dogging means are constrained against pivotal movement with the cover lever and are movable to the release position independently of the cover lever.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a safety belt buckle of the aforementioned character in which the part to be secured is constituted by a tongue plate having a latch opening which includes a narrow entry throat, and wherein the cover lever includes camming means for moving the dogging means into alignment with the entry throat so that the part to be secured may be inserted or withdrawn from the buckle frame, as the case may be. The dogging means is normally biased to a position out of alignment with the entry throat and in engagement with the margins of the latch opening to prevent withdrawal of the part. However, the dogging means is engageable by the part, upon insertion thereof into the buckle frame, for movement of the dogging means to its release position against the bias normally acting thereon.

A further object of the invention isthe provision of a safety belt buckle of the aforementioned character wherein the opening of the cover lever or handle portion is not accompanied by corresponding pivotal movement of the dogging means, the dogging means instead being moved to its release position by camming means forming a part of the cover lever and becoming operative upon opening pivotal movement thereof. A notable feature of this arrangement is that the bias means provided to urge the dogging means to its locked position effects'forcible engagement between the dogging means and the carnming means of the cover lever whereby the cover lever is normally urged to its closed position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a safety belt buckle of the aforementioned character which can be relatively inexpensively fabricated, is adapted for manufacture on a mass production basis, is easily operated, and is sufficiently strong and durable to satisfy governmental regulations covering seat belt buckles for use in automobiles and similar vehicles.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the'following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a safety belt buckle, according to the present invention, connecting two belt or strap sections;

FIG. 2 is an end elevationalview of the safety belt buckle of FIG. 1, taken from the tongue plate end thereof and with the tongue plate being removed for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1, with the tongue plate in locked position within the buckle frame;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along theline 44 of FIG. 3, and illustrating the dogging means in their release position; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating the dogging means in their locking position.

Referring now to the drawings, there is. illustrated a safety belt buckle 10 according to the present invention which includes a channel-shaped buckle housing or frame 12 having an elongated flat base portion 14 and a pair of transversely spaced-apart and parallel flanges or side portions 16 and 18 located adjacent opposite side edges of the base portion 14, and extending upwardly in substantially normal or perpendicular relationship thereto.

The base portion 14 is characterized by a belt extremity 17 and an opposite latch extremity 19 adjacent which is positioned a relatively wide transverse slot or belt opening (not shown) defined by forming a transverse flange or wall 22 out of the material of the base portion 14. The wall 22 extends upwardly from the base portion 14 in substanitally perpendicular relationship thereto.

A cylindrical, transversely disposed strap or clamping rod 24 is located above andsubstantially coextensive with the belt opening, and is knurled or generally roughened, as best viewed in FIG. 1, for improved frictional engagement with one extremity or section 30 of a belt which is to be secured to an opposite extremity or section 32 of the belt. The rod 24 is provided with flattened extremities 26 which are freely slidable within elongated, oppo sitely disposed slots 28 provided in the side portions 16 and 18 so that a pull upon the strap section 30 urges the rod 24 in a direction longitudinally of the slots 28. This brings the strap section 30 in clamping engagement with the adjacent wall 22 and prevents separation of the strap section 30 from the rod 24, it being apparent that the firmness of such clamping engagement increases in proportion to the magnitude of the pulling force upon the strap sec tion 30. This arrangement of the clamping rod 24 in con junction with the wall 22 binds and clamps the belt section 30 in position in a manner well known in the prior art. The complementalbelt section 32 is provided with a tongue plate 34receivable within the buckle frame 12 for securement. of the belt sections 30 and 32 about the wearer, as will be seen.

An elongated handle or cover lever 36 for releasing the secured belt sections 30 and 32 is pivotally mounted upon a transversely disposed rod or cylindricalsupport member 38 Whose opposite extremities are carried in any suitable fashion by the side portions 16 and .18. The cover lever 36 includes a pair of opposite side margins or flanges 40 which, in the normal or locking position of the cover lever 36, rest upon the belt section 30 which is reversely formed over the clamping rod 24. This cushions and limits the closing movement of the cover lever 36. The rearward or free extremity of the cover lever 36 normally overlies and extends beyond the upper edge margin of the wall 22 for easy grasping by the wearer.

The opposite or pivoted extremity of the cover lever 36 is reversely formed at 41 into an arcuate configuration that includes a central opening or cut away portion defined by a horizontally oriented stop margin 42, as best viewed in FIG. 2, whose opposite extremities each terminatein a camming surface 44. The camming surfaces 44 extend away from the margins 42, in divergent rela tionship and, as will be seen, constitute camming means for effecting release of the tongue plate 34 from the buckle frame 12.

A pair of dogging latches or members 46 are slidably carried by the support member 38 for movement along a transverse axis, each dogging member 46 having an opening through which the support member 38 is relatively slidably located. Each member 46 includes a laterally extending upper portion 48, which overlies and is in slidable engagement with the upper periphery of the support member 38, and further includes a depending, substantially vertically oriented latch portion 50.

The upper portions 48 of the pair of clogging members 46 extend in opposite directions, and the lower or latch portions 50 thereof are biased into forcible engagement with the cover lever camming surfaces 44, respectively, by a compression spring 52 which is mounted upon the support member 38 and engaged at its opposite extremities with the two dogging members 46. With this arrangement, the bias against the dogging members 46 not only moves them apart, but is also transmitted by them to the cover lever 36 through the camming surfaces 44. Thus, the spring 52 normally biases the cover lever 36 to a closed position in which the main body of the lever 36 overlies the space between the buckle frame side portions 16 and 18. With the cover lever 36 in its closed or locked position, and the dogging members 46 biased to the locked position illustrated in FIG. 5, the members 46 will be engaged with the camming surfaces 44. Consequently pivotal movement of the cover lever 36 to its open position causes the surfaces 44 to move the latch portions 50 of the dogging members toward each other to their release position, as best illustrated in FIG. 4. This occurs by reason of the decreasing horizontal distance between those portions of the opposed camming surfaces 44 in engagement with the latch portions 50 during pivotal movement of the cover lever 36 to its open position.

The latch portions 50 of the dogging members extend into a substantially transversely oriented and elongated latch opening 54 provided in the frame base portion 14, the elongated margins of the opening 54 thereby constituting a guide track constraining the latch portions 50 against movement other than along the path of the latch opening 54. It is particularly noted that the opening 54 constrains the dogging members 46 against pivotal .movement with the cover lever 36 about the axis of the support member 38. The lower ends of the latch portions 50 terminate flush with the underside vof the frame base portion 14 so as not to catch on the clothing of the user of the present buckle 10.

The tongue plate 34 receivable in the buckle frame 12 includes a transverse slot 56 for receiving the looped or reversely formed belt section 32, and also includes upturned side portions or. flanges 58 having substantially vertically oriented stop margins 60 which, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, engage or abut against the adjacent vertical margins of the frame side portions 16 and 18. This properly locates the tongue plate 34 in operative position within the buckle frame 12. p

The tongue plate 34 is also characterized by a latch opening 62 having a substantially transversely oriented portion 64 and a generally longitudinally oriented portion 66 extending from the leadingedge or free edge margin of the plate 34 into communication with the portion 64, with the side margins of the portion 66 tapering inwardly in convergentrelationship to form a comparatively narrow entry throat 67 to the portion 64 and a pair of transverse laterally spaced retaining shoulders 68.

, The tongue plate 34 is longitudinally insertable beneath the arcuate portion 41 of the cover lever 36 and into the interior of the buckle frame 12, the latch openp the tongue plate 34 engage and abut the adjacentvertical margins of the frame side portions 16 and 18.

Upon initial insertion of the plate 34 into the buckle frame 12, the convergent margins of the latch opening portion 66 engage the latch portions 50 of the dogging members 46. As insertion of the tongue plate continues, the progressively decreasing distance between the converging margins of the opening portion 66 effect corresponding movement of the latch portions 50 toward each other into longitudinal alignment with the entry throat 67 of the latch opening 62. Upon achieving such alignment, the latch portions 50 enter the transverse portion 64 of the latch opening 62 under the bias of the spring 52. The tongue plate 34 is now constrained against withdrawal from the buckle frame 12 by engagement between the latch portions 50 and the retaining shoulders 68.

The movement of the dogging members 46 to their release position in longitudinal alignment with the narrow entry throat 67 is independent of any movement of the cover lever 36, occurring without any corresponding movement of the cover lever 36. Thus, engagement and locking of the tongue plate 34 is eifected without any opening movement whatever of the cover lever 36.

The tongue plate 34 is unlocked or released by pivotal movement of the cover lever 36 to its open position, which progressively brings the more closely spaced portions of its camming surfaces 44 into engagement with the latch portions 50. This moves the dogging members 46 inwardly from their locking position, out of alignment with the narrow entry throat 67, to their aligned, release position.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present safety belt buckle provides dogging members normally biased to locking position by a spring which also serves to bias the cover lever to its normally closed position. The bias of the spring is transmitted to the cover lever by camming surfaces which are integral with the cover lever 36 and in engagement with the dogging members. However, the dogging members are movable to their release position independently of the cover lever upon insertion of the tongue plate, the dogging members merely disengaging the camming surfaces and otherwise not disturbing the position of the cover lever. In addition, the dogging members are positively constrained against piv otal movement with the cover lever whereby they are constantly in position to transmit to the buckle frame any forces tending to separate the connected buckle frame and tongue plate.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to the foregoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims, including variations in the means for camming a dogging member or members into and out of longitudinal alignment with the entry passage or passages of a complemental latch opening or openings.

I claim:

1. A safety belt buckle comprising:

a buckle housing including a transversely oriented rod- ].ike support member;

a tongue plate having a portion defining a transverse shoulder and an entry throat affording communication between said shoulder and the outer leading edge of said plate, said plate being longitudinally insertable in said buckle housing;

dogging means carried by said support member and slidable along said support memberbetween a locking position in engagement with said shoulder whereby said tongue plate is locked in said buckle housing, and a release position out of engagement with said shoulder and in alignment with said entry throat whereby said tongue plate may be withdrawn from said buckle housing;

bias means carried by said support member and biasing said dogging means toward said locking position;

and a cover lever pivotally carried by said support member for pivotal movement about a transverse axis and between a closed position and an open position, and including camming means engageable with said dogging means for movement of said dogging means toward said release position upon movement of said cover lever toward said open position, said buckle housing including means constraining said dogging means against pivotal movement with said cover lever.

2. A safety belt buckle comprising:

a buckle frame including a pair of oppositely disposed side portions and a base portion having a latch opening therein, and further including a transverse support element mounted to said side portions above said base portion;

a tongue plate having a latch opening and longitudinally insertable in said buckle frame above said base portion for registry of said latch openings, said latch opening of said tongue member including a narrow entry throat to thereby define a pair of laterally spaced retaining shoulders;

a pair of dogging latches carried by said support element and extending into said latch opening of said base portion, said dogging latches being movable relative to said support element and toward alignment with the central longitudinal axis thereof for passage through said entry throat and entry into said latch opening of said tongue plate upon insertion of said tongue plate into said buckle member, and movable away from said alignment for engaging said shoulders to constrain said tongue plate against removal from said buckle frame;

bias means biasing said dogging latches away from said alignment;

and a cover lever pivotally mounted to said buckle frame for pivotal movement about a transverse axis and including means engageable with said dogging latches to move said dogging latches into said alignment upon pivotal movement of said cover lever toward an open position, a margin of said latch opening of said base portion engaging and constraining said dogging latches against rotation about said transverse axis.

. A safety belt buckle comprising:

a buckle frame including a pair of oppositely disposed side portions and a base portion having a substantially transversely oriented latch opening, and further including a transverse support element mounted to said side portions above said base portion;

a tongue plate longitudinally insertable in said buckle frame above said base portion and including a transverseiy oriented latch opening having a longitudinally oriented entry passage thereto; pair of dogging members carried by said support member and adapted to extend into both said latch openings, said dogging members being transversely slidable along said support member into and out of alignment with said entry passage whereby said tongue plate is insertable into said buckle frame when said dogging members are in said alignment, and is constrained against withdrawal when said dogging members are out of said alignment;

a cover lever pivotally connected to said buckle frame by said support member for pivotal movement about a transverse axis, and including cam surfaces engageable with said dog ing members to move said dogging means from a position of non-alignment with said passage to a position of alignment upon pivotal movement of said cover lever toward an open position, a margin of said latch opening of said base portion engaging and constraining said dogging members against rotation about said transverse axis; and bias means on said support member biasing said dogging members toward said position of non-alignment, said dogging members being movable toward said position of alignment against the bias of said biasing means independently of any movement of said cover lever.

A safety belt buckle comprising:

a buckle frame including a pair of oppositely disposed side portions and a base portion having a substantially transversely oriented latch opening, and further including a transverse support element mounted to said side portions above said base portion;

a tongue plate longitudinally insertable in said buckle frame above said base portion and including a transversely oriented latch opening having a longitudinally oriented entry passage thereto;

a pair of dogging members carried by said support member and adapted to extend into both said latch openings, said dogging members being transversely siidable along said support member toward each other to a position of alignment with said entry passage whereby said tongue plate is insertable into said buckle frame, and slidable away from each other to a position of non-alignment whereby said tongue plate is constrained against withdrawal therefrom;

a cover lever pivotally connected to said buckle frame by said support member for pivotal movement about a transverse axis, and including earn surfaces engageable with said dogging members to move said dogging means from said position of non-alignment to said position of alignment upon pivotal movement of said cover lever toward an open position, a margin of said latch opening in said base portion engaging and constraining said dogging members against rotation about said transverse axis;

and a compression spring on said support member between said dogging members normally biasing said dogging members to said position of non-alignment, said dogging members being disengageable from said camming surfaces for movement to said position of alignment against the bias of said spring and independently of any movement of said cover lever.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,802,251 8/ 1957 Wallace. 2,867,024 1/1959 Sepe. 2,894,306 7/1959 Hyman. 2,948,939 8/1960 Prete. 3,104,439 9/1963 Martin.

FOREIGN PATENTS 871,819 7/1961 Great Britain.

92,116 5/1958 Norway.

5 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY I. STOCKING, Examiner. 

1. A SAFETY BELT BUCKLE COMPRISING: A BUCKLE HOUSING INCLUDING A TRANSVERSELY ORIENTED RODLIKE SUPPORT MEMBER; A TONGUE PLATE HAVING A PORTION DEFINING A TRANSVERSE SHOULDER AND AN ENTRY THROAT AFFORDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID SHOULDER AND THE OUTER LEADING EDGE OF SAID PLATE, SAID PLATE BEING LONGITUDINALLY INSERTABLE IN SAID BUCKLE HOUSING; DOGGING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND SLIDABLE ALONG SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BETWEEN A LOCKING POSITION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SHOULDER WHEREBY SAID TONGUE PLATE IS LOCKED IN SAID BUCKLE HOUSING, AND A RELEASE POSITION OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SHOULDER AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID ENRY THROAT WHEREBY SAID TONGUE PLATE MAY BE WITHDRAWN FROM SAID BUCKLE HOUSING; BIAS MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND BIASING SAID DOGGING MEANS TOWARD SAID LOCKING POSITION; AND A COVER LEVER PIVOTALLY CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A TRANSVERSE AXIS AND BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION AND AN OPEN POSITION, AND INCLUDING CAMMING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID DOGGING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID DOGGING MEANS TOWARD SAID RELEASE POSITION UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER LEVER TOWARD SAID OPEN POSITION, SAID BUCKLE HOUSING INCLUDING MEANS CONSTRAINING SAID DOGGING MEANS AGAINST PIVOTAL MOVEMENT WITH SAID COVER LEVER. 